7th May 2021

Walking the Dawlish Sea Wall
Roger Salter

A walk from Rockstone Bridge to Coastguard Bridge, with closed access to Dawlish. The National Oceanography Centre was just initialising their monitoring equipment to learn about the different wave patterns hitting the sea wall. I am very grateful to Margaret Yelland who explained the equipment. At the closed Coastguard Bridge there have been several photographic reports of people walking the line to Dawlish Station, endangering themselves & the train staff/passengers!!

Many Thanks Roger for your collection of photographs of Dawlish

Return to Okehampton
Driver Alan Peters

My first turn of duty back on the footplate following my operation, this was on the Dartmoor Line and it was interesting to see how things are progressing. Colas Rail Freight 56302 'Peco - The Railway Modeller' has been hired to Network Rail basically as a super shunter to load the concrete sleeper trains and shunt them train down to the NTC machine (New Track Construction) for relaying of the line. When I arrived for my shift the locomotive and loaded train of sleepers was already in Okehampton station ready to push back or in railway terminology 'propel' to the work site. The NTC machine was working the Okehampton side of Sampford Courtenay station where the class 56 is pictured at Lydcott Farm Bridge on the newly laid track, once the train of sleepers is connected to the NTC machine the locomotive returns light to Okehampton to collect the empty sleeper wagons in stabled in platform 2 (the old down platform) where the shunter is seen releasing the wagon brakes in preparation to shunt across to Platform 3 (the up platform) The train is then drawn out right up under Tors Road Bridge to clear the ground frame before setting back into the station for reloading on the 5th May 2021

Alan Peters

Lydcott Farm Bridge 5th May 2021 Copyright Driver Alan Peters

Okehampton. just west of. 5th May 2021 Copyright Driver Alan Peters

Tors Road Bridge 5th May 2021 Copyright Driver Alan Peters

Whilst the concrete sleepers are loaded onto the wagons at Okehampton this gave an opportunity to take some pictures of Colas Rail 56302 'Peco - The Railway Modeller' at Okehampton with the sun shinning on the 5th May 2021, however the station remains closed to public access although the view from the footbridge shows the Dartmoor Railway Supporters Association are busying themselves getting ready to open the museum to the public later this month. It is now envisaged that the track will remain in platform 2 (The old Down line) but only for aesthetic reasons at least this is better than the original plan was to remove it. The hired in crane is seen loading the sleepers stacked in the old goods yard, this will eventually be cleared for a modern car park with lighting and CCTV to modern standards.

Alan Peters

Colas rail 'Peco the Railway Modeller' Okehampton 5th May 2021 Copyright Driver Alan Peters.

Unloading sleepers at Okehampton 5th May 2021. Copyright Driver Alan Peters

Close up of sleeper unloading using hired in crane. Okehampton 5th May 2021. Copyright Driver Alan Peters.

Many thanks for your special pictures Alan, we're very pleased to have you back following your operation.  Please take care.
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6th May 2021
A busy day!

Guy Vincent at Upton Scudamore  and Freshford

GB Railfreight's recent European acquisition 66791, still carrying the former Beacon Rail livery applied when the loco was based in Sweden, approaching Upton Scudamore north of Warminster with the daily afternoon trip working from Eastleigh East Yard to Westbury, a duty often covered by currently absent 59003. Today's load consisted of some track panels and a Plasser and Theurer Crane.

66791 was delivered new in November 2002 to HSBC Rail Ltd, London. Numbered 66404 it was hired to CargoNet AS, Oslo and used in Sweden.   From March 2009 ownership was transferred to Beacon Rail Leasing Ltd, London.  By 2014 the number was preceded by a capital letter 'T'.  The lease on the loco was taken on by GB Railfreight in 2019 and it was delivered via Immingham Docks in June of that year.   Modifications for use in the UK were made to the loco at Longport, Stoke on Trent and following further attention at Doncaster Roberts Road depot 66791 entered service in October 2020.  The loco did carry nameplates 'Neil Bennett' but these are now missing. 
 
Mainline Diesels.net is an invaluable source of information on all loco types, especially these hard to trace European imports.  

Guy Vincent

Upton Scudamore 66791 7V41 6th May 2021 Copyright Guy Vincent.

Freshford 60019 passing Freshford on a partially sunny but chilly afternoon with the thrice-weekly returning 6B33 empty aviation fuel tanks from Theale to Robeston sidings, Milford Haven. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Many thanks Guy - also an invaluable source of information.
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 Keith Turley at Pinhoe and Cowley Bridge

43062 'John Armitt' on the rear approach Pinhoe station. 1Q23 NR TT. 6th May 2021. Copyright Keith Turley

GBRF large logo class 66/7 No.66789 'British Rail 1948-1997' T/T with classmate No.66729 'Derby County' work the 6G74 09:25 Westbury Down TC to Crediton engineers, loaded autoballaster wagons. 6th May 2021. Copyright Keith Turley.

Many thanks Keith, a swift drive between locations.
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Bill Elston at Creech St Michael and Chard.

Hi Keith, Over at Creech today for the 6G74, 0925 Westbury to Crediton balast, led by GBRf 66789 and tailed by 66729. then a dash over to
Chard Jct for the NMT returning from Exeter to Salisbury, led by ex-LNER pc 43299 and tailed by 43062.
 Best wishes, Bill

66729, 6th May 2021 Copyright Bill Elston

66789, 6th May 2021. Copyright Bill Elston

43299 at Chard Junction. 6th May 2021 Copyright Bill Elston

Many thanks for your 'dashed' good pictures Bill.
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Down west 2 with
Steve Widdowson

In the second part of his review of photographs taken in 1995 Steve kindly sends us pictures of the St Ives branch and class 37 at St Blazey.

Taken presumably while waiting for the railtour . 117305 on a service train at Carbis Bay 8th May 1995. Copyright Steve Widdowson

What a glorious view, 37696 Tops and tails with 37669 seen here approaching Carbis Bay 8th May 1995. Copyright Steve Widdowson

The railtour returns from St Ives with leading 37669 and 37696 trailing. passing through Carbis Bay on the 8th May 1995 Copyright Steve Widdowson

Steve completes his chase of the railtour as we see 37669 TNT 37696 crossing the embankment at Golant. 8th May 1995. Copyright Steve Widdowson

37 674 Copyright Steve Widdowson

Many thanks Steve for your excellent coverage of a visit down west. You had  good time.
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